Adjustable attachment and extension for fire-ladders



(No Model.)

J. W. TULLY.

ADJUSTABLE ATTACHMENT AND EXTENSION FOR FIRE'LADDERSi Patented June 4, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

JAMES WV. TULLY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE ATTACH MENT AND EXTENSION FOR FIRE-LADDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,511, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed October 8, 1888. Serial No. 287,545. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WV. 'IULLY, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Attachments and Extensions for Fire-Ladders; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same. i

' My invention relates to the class of ladders, and especially to fire-ladders.

My invention consists in anauxiliary or supplementary ladder adapted to be readily applied to and connected with the main ladder, and in suitable ropes attached to said auxiliary or supplementary ladder and guided by the main ladder, whereby the former may be extended from the latter at any suitable inclination, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for a fire-ladder, and especially that extensible ladder known as the Hayes, whereby the windows or wall of a building may be readily reached by means of the extension or attachment, notwithstanding that the main body of the ladder is unable, because of obstructions-such as telegraph-wires, &c.to reach the walls, or near enough to the building to render it of service. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more complete explanation of my invention, the figure is a perspective view of my device.

A is the main ladder, of the type known as the Hayes, said ladder being made with an extensible portion a, adapted to be run up on the fixed portion in the ordinary manner.

B is my auxiliary or supplementary ladder. This is provided on one end with bearinghooks I), having their openings protectedby springs b, said hooks being adapted to fit over any of the rounds of the extensible portion a of the main ladder, and forming ahinge, about which the auxiliary or supplementary ladder may turn to any suitable inclination.

The other end of the ladder B is provided with hooks 12 for engaging the window-sill or other portion of the building against which the ladder rests.

0 are ropes, which are attached to rings or eyes 0, attached to the auxiliary or supplementary ladder, said ropes thence. passing through guide-sheaves c in the top of the extensible portion a of the main ladder, and thence down along said main ladder to a winding-drum or Windlass D at the foot, to which they are attached, so that they may be wound thereon.

The attachment of the auxiliary or supplementary ladder is made when the main ladder is in a horizontal. position, and its hooks b are readily snapped over any of the rounds of the extensible portion of the main ladder. The proper attachment of the ropes is made, and then the main ladder is hoisted and the extensible portion run up to the proper height. Then the ropes are operated so as to raise the hinged supplementary or auxiliary ladder to the proper inclination.

It will be seen that'by the use of this attachment the windows and walls of a building may be reached. in cases where without it the main ladder could not be of much use for example, where numerous telegraph and electric wires obstruct the face of a building. In that case the truck is so arranged that when the main ladder is run up and extended the auxiliary or supplementary ladder will be on the outside. Then, said last-named ladder being raised to the proper inclination, and being, by reason of the extension of the main ladder, in a plane higher than the obstructing telegraph wires, the truck may turn round sufficiently to carry the auxiliary or supplementary ladder over the obstructing wires, so that its end will project toward the building and properly engage the windows or other portion. The firemen can then reach the building, and those within it may havea means of escape. Being hinged it may be turned to any suitable inclination, so as to reach the place intended, and this adjustment may be extended so far as to throw the ladder B to a practically vertical position, in which case it will form an extension of the main ladder.

This attachment will be useful also in reaching buildings the faces of which are obstructed by elevated-road structures, as the to the hooks, the ropes attached to the auxiliary or supplementary ladder and passing through sheaves on the main ladder, and a Winding-drum or Windlass at the footof the main ladder, to which the ropes are attached, whereby the auxiliary or supplementary ladder may be extended from the main ladder and turned to any suitable inclination, substantially as herein described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES W. TULLY.

W'itnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, II. C. LEE. 

